At the military camp, the soldiers were gathered around and perfectly organized. Brick and Jen stood beside each other as the sergeant from last night stood up and straight and soon, the group met the head officer in charge who was also Miranda's father.
"This is a two day mission, weaklings! That means no 48 hours: no potato chippies, no television sets, no hot showers, no nothing!" Officer Killgahen told the young soldiers before getting right in Otto's face. "And that especially means no extreme sports!"
"Sir, yes, sir!" The soldiers replied obediently.
Otto scoffed and mumbled something to himself.
"WHAT WAS THAT, ROCKET?!" Officer Killgahen demanded.
"Nothing, sir." Otto replied as best as he could.
"You will be armed with nothing more than a rope, a match, and a low-quality penknife!" Officer Killgallen then said to them. "Drop and give me 20! NOW!"
Everyone then got ready to do push-ups for him, though Otto dropped to the ground and took out a 10-dollar bill. "Sorry, all I got is a 10." he then said, trying to make a joke.
"You think you're funny, Rocket, but you're not," Officer Killgahen glared sternly. "That attitude will get you in a lot of trouble, especially in my fields. Why can't you be more like folks like Gus Griswold?" he then added, sounding proud of Gus.
"I do my best, sir!" Gus replied through push-ups.
"Man, Gus Griswold is more popular than I am, that's worse than being lower than Squid!" Otto complained to himself.
"PUSH-UPS! NOW!" Officer Killgallen snapped at him.
Otto groaned as he soon went to try to do that, though he struggled a bit while everyone else was a bit better than him. Brick smiled as Jen was doing very well for herself which he found to be very admirable.
"1... um, 2..." Otto grunted as he was doing the worst.
"You're pathetic, Rocket." Officer Killgallen glared.
"Um, sir, yes, sir..." Otto replied weakly. "Um, no upper body strength to speak of, sir... Could use a skateboard or rollerblades."
"Well, kiddies, if on your mission the food supply runs out, you'll know who to eat first, hmm?" Officer Killgallen then said to the others as Otto was the worst one on the field.
"I guess I should thank Mr. E for training us pretty hard when he substituted for Miss Grotke that one week." Gus said to himself.
"Man! Your dad is totally harsh, Miranda." Darren whispered loudly.
"Shh!" Jen shushed him, but it was too late.
"Beg pardon, Patterson?!" Officer Killgallen demanded firmly. "Did you have something to say?"
"Um, I was just talking to Miranda." Darren explained as he stood up straight off the ground.
"'I was talking to Miranda'!" Officer Killgallen repeated in a mocking voice before glaring at the boy. "Lookee here, son! When you address me, you will address me as sir! You understand?!"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Darren replied in a weak voice as he saluted the man. "I was just talking to Miranda, your daughter, sir! But please, carry on with intimidating and humiliating my peers, sir! I believe you were on Otto Rocket." he then added in a hushed voice.
"Aw, come on, man!" Otto groaned. "You're all treating me like I'm a shoobie or something!"
Miranda cupped her mouth and chuckled a bit to herself.
"We got ourselves a genuine smarty mouth on our hands!" Officer Killgallen remarked firmly. "Patterson, since you and your little girlfriend have so much to talk about, perhaps you can do so while stripping and refinishing the barracks while the rest of these toddlers are on their survival expedition!"
"Oof." Brick and Jen winced as that seemed harsh, but they wouldn't dare speak against their superior officer.
"Dad, that's totally unfair!" Miranda complained as she stood up.
"Little lady, you will address me as every other private does on this troop!" Officer Killgallen reminded his daughter, not even going easy on her.
"Sir, yes, sir." Miranda replied softly.
"Drop and give me 20! NOW!" Officer Killgallen continued to order around the young soldiers.
MEANWHILE...
Reggie, Eliza, and Courtney continued to go on their hike with the blonde girl holding onto her parasol for protection from the sun.
Courtney struggled a bit as Reggie and Eliza hopped over the rocks together and she was unable to keep up with them until she decided to speak up to them. "If you don't believe me about Ginger, you can go ask her for yourself!" she then told the other two girls.
Reggie and Eliza just kept ignoring Courtney and soon passed the field that was set up for archery.
"It was me who set her up with her boyfriend back home: Ian Richton." Courtney continued as she tried to catch up with the other two girls.
Sasha overheard that and looked a little hurt.
"Ginger has a boyfriend?" Eliza asked as that made her stop in her tracks. "No way!"
"Don't listen to her, Eliza." Reggie warned the pigtailed girl.
"Oh, believe me, Ginger's boyfriend is a total catch!" Courtney boasted with a small smile. "He's cute and rich and popular and did I mention rich?"
Sasha continued to listen in on the girls as he hid behind the targets on the archery field.
"Wow! Sounds like Ginger sure has changed." Eliza said to Reggie.
"I'll say." Reggie grumbled and rolled her eyes.
Sasha turned away as he continued to do his work, but now he had a broken heart.
Later, the girls cheered and grew excited near the docks as it was time for a very important activity. Rhonda was swimming across the lake and touched a buoy before swimming back. Meanwhile, the current girls on the docks were shivering as they waited in anticipation of going into the water.
"Way to go, Rhonda!" Jed smiled as he helped the swimming girl out of the water. "Show that teamwork, ladies! Rock and Roll!" he then added as Angelica, Lil, and Savannah were shown in a canoe. "That's a Camp Caprice record! 'Sunfish status' for the entire bunk in just one morning!"
"Whoo-hoo! Carnations rule!" Angelica cheered boastfully at Courtney, Dakota, Zoey, Dodie, and Macie.
"Don't let those girls bother you guys," Zoey advised the younger girls. "It's time to get in the lake and show them what you're made of."
"Well said, Zo." Dakota nodded in approval.
"Who's our first swimmer?" Jed asked the younger girls who didn't answer him right away. "I say, who's first?"
"Courtney?" Dakota prompted her younger cousin.
Courtney just shook her head in response.
"Jed, Margie asked that I keep my whistle on me at all times to help keep the order," Dodie spoke up as she showed the whistle she was given as a gift. "I should probably go last after all the hoopla is over."
Zoey and Dakota both rolled their eyes at that.
"Macie?" Jed prompted the bespectacled girl.
"I've got a festering sore on my ankle from yesterday's nature walk," Macie replied apologetically. "I really don't think I should get the bandage wet."
"Now Mace, a little fresh air and some Camp Caprice lake water might do it some good and I'll be right here watching you," Jed encouraged the girl with a friendly smile. "Antibiotic ointment on hand."
"Unbelievable bedside manner~" Macie smiled dreamily at him. "Did I mention my chronic battle with swimmer's ear?" she then added bashfully.
"Aw, Macie..." Zoey sighed at the younger girl.
"Uh, Courtney? Quick dip?" Jed suggested to the rich girl.
"Ah, Jed, I think we all know the answer to that." Dakota advised Jed since she knew how her cousin could be.
Courtney nodded in agreement.
"Right... well, this is a new record alright," Jed noted as it seemed like no one was going to get in the water. "Never before has an entire cabin of girls refused to-"
"I'll do it!" Ginger spoke up as she came into the scene.
"Atta girl, Ginger!" Jed smiled proudly.
"Way to go, Ginge." Zoey approved her cousin.
Ginger soon stared into the water before she would go for a swim.
"There's wildlife in there, Ginger," Courtney advised. "You don't have to do this."
"Now it's a long swim, Ginger, so there's no need to rush," Jed reminded the girl as he pointed out to where she had to go. "So there's no need to rush."
"Yeah, Ginger, there's no rush." Zoey added.
"If you get tired, just raise one hand in the air and your bunkmates will fish you right out." Jed reminded Ginger.
"One hand and I'll reel you in like a flounder!" Macie added.
Zoey chuckled a little at that.
"Got it." Ginger nodded.
"And another thing," Jed began to tell the redheaded girl. "It helps to picture something you really like waiting for you at the other end. Like a footlong hoagie with melted Swiss or a universal remote control with an illuminated night vision keypad, or-"
"She's gone." Zoey said as Ginger splashed into the water suddenly.
"She's off!" Jed smiled proudly.
Everyone soon began to cheer for Ginger as the young redheaded girl began to swim across the lake.
"Quick! Get in your boat!" Dakota told Courtney, Macie, and Dodie.
Soon, the three girls began to do that and wore their life vests before going after Ginger if needed.
"Why didn't I end up with that group?" Lil complained to herself as Angelica, Savannah, and Rhonda annoyed her deeply.
"Hey, uh, Jill?" Rhonda spoke up as she came to the brunette girl.
"It's Lil..." Lil corrected with a glare.
"Right, I knew that." Rhonda replied.
"Sure ya did," Lil rolled her eyes at that. "Anyway, whatya want? You gonna paint my nails? Brush my hair? What're you gonna do to try to improve my look?" she then demanded.
"No, nothing like that, I swear," Rhonda told her. "I wanna talk to you about something else."
"Oh... well, all right," Lil shrugged. "This better be good."
"It will, I just don't want Angelica or Savannah to hear." Rhonda replied.
Lil looked curious before she soon followed Rhonda over to a hidden spot where no one would see or hear them. "Okay, so what is it?" she then asked.
"Shh! Quieter." Rhonda reminded Lil.
Lil groaned before dropping her voice to a lower pitch. "What?" she then demanded impatiently.
"I'm in love with a geek." Rhonda admitted to Lil.
"Thanks for telling me, mind if I take a nap in the cabin since none of you let me sleep last night?" Lil deadpanned.
"Wait, it's someone you know." Rhonda said as she put her hand on Lil's shoulder.
"Is it now?" Lil rolled her eyes. "Does that mean I'm a geek by association?"
"No, Lil, I swear, it's nothing personal, I just wanna talk to you about someone you know who happens to be a geek and if Angelica or Savannah found out about this, my reputation would be shot," Rhonda begged nervously as she put her hands together. "No one can know about this, but I trust you since you know this person."
"Fine... who is it?" Lil demanded. "It better not be my brother, Phil."
"No, it's not Phil." Rhonda reassured Lil.
Lil rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently.
"It's Chuckie Finster." Rhonda finally revealed.
Lil suddenly stopped and looked wide-eyed at that revelation.
Meanwhile, Ginger continued to swim across the lake as Macie, Dodie, and Courtney went after her in the canoe.
"I'm so proud of her," Zoey smiled at Dakota about her younger cousin. "She's really come so far since the shy quiet girl in school who only expressed herself in her journal."
"I wanna be proud of Courtney too, but I just feel like summer camp isn't the life for her." Dakota replied.
"I think she's doing decently at least." Zoey shrugged.
"Somewhat at least." Dakota admitted.
"Row! Row!" Macie told Dodie since Courtney ended up dropping her paddle in the water by accident.
Ginger continued to swim and pant as she went over to her goal which was the buoy as she seemed to visualize like Jed advised her until she made it.
"She made it!" Zoey beamed at her younger cousin.
"Way to go, Ginger!" Dakota added.
Ginger smiled once she made it over to the other side without needing help from Macie, Dodie, or Courtney.
"So Ginger, what did you imagine was on the other side?" Zoey asked her cousin once they all made it back to the dock.
"Oh, ya know, nothing important." Ginger blushed in response.
"Oh, I think I know what." Zoey smirked.
"What?" Dakota wondered, genuinely confused.
"Shh~" Zoey shushed and giggled.
"Zoey!" Ginger complained.
"Aw, come on, Ginger," Zoey said to her cousin. "It's not like I told her or your friends anything majorly important."
"Hm... let's try to keep it that way, shall we?" Ginger replied.
"Of course," Zoey nodded. "Besides, it's time for one of my favorite activities."
"And what would that be?" Dakota wondered.
"Come on, we'll show ya." Zoey replied.
Later, the younger girl from earlier was playing with a guitar while the older girls were huddled together at a table, doing a new activity that was craft related.
"I really don't see what makes this a friendship bracelet!" Courtney complained. "It doesn't even have any semi-precious stones or metals."
"Not everyone can afford those for friendship bracelets, Courtney." Zoey advised.
"I should say not." Courtney grumbled.
"I'm sorry." Dakota said to Zoey.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Zoey replied. "She's still just trying to adjust."
"Do you think Jed likes maroon?" Macie asked hopefully, showing her friendship bracelet so far.
Ginger gave a small smile while looking at her own friendship bracelet.
"Mm... interesting use of color, Ginger," Courtney noted. "Is it for your cousin Zoey?" she then asked.
Ginger looked hesitant in answering that question.
"Eugh! Yuck!" The younger girl soon groaned out loud.
"Meet you guys back at the bunk." Ginger said as she decided to help out the girl.
"You want some help?" Zoey offered to Ginger.
"I think I got it, but if you wanna come along." Ginger shrugged in response.
The younger girl soon tried to tune the guitar as Ginger and Zoey walked over to see her.
"Hi, I'm Ginger and this is my cousin, Zoey." Ginger introduced herself and her cousin.
"I'm Melanie." The younger girl replied.
Ginger then took out her friendship bracelet and decided to give it to the younger girl.
"Wow! Thanks!" Melanie beamed which caused Zoey to smile proudly of her younger cousin.
"I'm just learning how to play guitar too. How old are you?" Ginger soon said and asked the younger girl.
"I'm almost 9." Melanie stated.
"Wow! We're really impressed." Zoey smiled innocently.
"Yeah," Ginger added before she came closer to the younger girl. "Here, let me play you something I'm working on. Promise not to laugh, okay?"
"Okay." Melanie nodded as she let Ginger take hold of her guitar.
"I won't laugh either, Ginger," Zoey added as she sat next to Melanie. "Mind if I sit here?" she then asked the younger girl.
"It's a free world." Melanie allowed.
Ginger soon began to strum the guitar. "There were copper-colored ponies, There was air that smelled like rain~" she then began to sing before sitting down next to her cousin and new friend. "And the moon was out in daytime, When I first learned your name~"
Melanie soon giggled after a few moments.
"Hey! You promised!" Zoey smirked playfully at Melanie.
"Cutie Pie." Courtney smiled as she came by and patted Melanie on the head.
"Take it easy, Courtney, she's not a dog." Dakota reminded her cousin.
"Uh, Melanie, these are Courtney and Dakota," Ginger quickly introduced. "Courtney and Dakota, Melanie."
"Hi, there." Dakota said to Melanie.
"She's the little sister we both always wanted," Zoey whispered to Dakota. "Don't tell Carl."
"I wouldn't wanna tell Blake either." Dakota whispered back with a chuckle.
"Okay, Ginger, don't think I haven't noticed you giving me the cold shoulder lately," Courtney suddenly firmly spoke to the redheaded girl who was around her age. "And if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were a little lovesick."
"Courtney!" Dakota whispered firmly.
"Dakota." Courtney simply retorted.
"How'd you know?!" Ginger gasped at Courtney.
"Ginger, when it comes to affairs of the heart, I know," Courtney replied smugly. "And it's understandable you'd be a little cranky what with your boyfriend Ian so far away."
"Courtney..." Zoey grumbled.
"Zoey." Courtney replied.
"Courtney, I-" Ginger began to say.
"Beverly, be a dear and skedaddle for me, won't you?" Courtney suggested to Melanie. "Ginger and I have big girl things to discuss."
Melanie pouted and began to walk away.
"Melanie! Wait!" Ginger cried out as she tried to stop the younger girl.
"Don't worry, I'll go after her for you." Zoey offered to Ginger before doing just that.
"And I'm gonna have a word with my cousin." Dakota added as she looked down at Courtney firmly.
"Ginger, stop avoiding the subject!" Courtney tutted the redheaded girl. "Now, I'm willing to overlook the fact that this camp you raved so much about is a total bore."
"Not to me it isn't!" Ginger retorted.
"And the people here don't exactly know who I am which is even more of a bore!" Courtney continued to rant. "I mean, they're treating me just as if I'm like everyone else!"
"Courtney, in a summer camp, you ARE just like everybody else," Dakota reminded her cousin. "I mean sure, my dad hired Papparazi for me to help me feel more at home at Camp Wawanakwa, but I now realize that that wasn't the best way for me to go and even becoming Chris' intern in order to avoid getting kicked off of Revenge of the Island."
"Yeah, Dakota's right," Ginger agreed. "No offense, but sometimes you can be a little..." she then added, but hesitated in finishing her sentence.
"A little what?" Courtney demanded.
"A little high maintenance, okay?" Ginger soon finally said it.
"No! Not okay, okay?" Courtney glared. "You've changed, Ginger, and I'm not the only one to notice it! Eliza Thornberry and Reggie Rocket said so too!" she then huffed and stormed off in exasperation.
"Courtney, wait!" Dakota cried out to her cousin.
"No, maybe they're right," Ginger said softly as she picked up the guitar. "You better go after her."
"Yeah, I think I will," Dakota nodded. "I'm sorry about the drama from my cousin."
"It's okay..." Ginger sighed. "I deal with a lot worse in school."
"I'm sure." Dakota said before she went to go after her younger cousin.
MEANWHILE...
Miranda and Darren were scraping the barracks as their punishment while Jen began to supervise them.
"Sorry you guys have to go through this, but you know how it is in a military camp by now." Jen said to them.
"I don't see you scraping!" Miranda complained.
"Yes, I know, but I'm here to make sure you do as you're told," Jen reminded them. "Besides, I'm not as rough and tough as your father when it comes to instructions, so you should be lucky I'm not making you do 50 push-ups before dinner."
Darren sighed before he stopped for a moment. "I think we're making excellent process." he then said.
"You still have a while to go." Jen pointed out.
Miranda looked over and began to groan about her father. "Oh... making me call him 'sir', can you believe that?!" she then fussed.
"Kinda reminds me of my old man." Darren admitted bashfully.
"Where do they get off?!" Miranda ranted.
"It's the real world, Miranda." Jen reminded the younger girl.
"Whatever!" Miranda glared.
"I guess we have a lot in common," Darren said to Miranda sheepishly. "Kinda funny that we never hung out... 'til now."
"We are not 'hanging out', Patterson, WE simply have to be sharing the most miserable summer of my entire life!" Miranda retorted aggressively. "I just hope Courtney is just half as miserable as we are!"
"Don't worry. She is." Darren chuckled.
"And what makes you say that, Darren?" Jen wondered. "I won't report you or anything, just talk to me." she then added.
"Letter from Ginger." Darren explained as he took out some mail he was given as evidence.
Miranda looked eager and tried to reach out for it.
"Uh-uh! I can't let you read the first three pages... but here." Darren said, keeping it out of her reach until he handed her one of his pages to see for herself.
Miranda soon took the page and read it aloud to herself. "'Courtney, however, is having a terrible time. Despite the Gripling-Milton family charm, she hasn't made one single friend'."
"Hahahaha!" Otto soon laughed. "Looks like Courtney is rich in dollars and poor in social skills, am I right?!"
"That's my best friend you're talking about, Snotto!" Miranda glared as she threw her scraper at his head.
"Ow! Watch it!" Otto complained as that hit him and he rubbed his head.
Miranda glared at him before she looked a little sad for her best friend, especially after the argument they had before the summer camp adventures started.
"Is that the kind of misery you had in mind or what?" Darren asked Miranda who got back up and had tears in her eyes all of a sudden. "Miranda, what's wrong?" he then asked, seeing her sadness.
"This is all my fault," Miranda explained tearfully. "The only reason Courtney is toughing it up out there is to prove to me that she can do it! All because of this stupid fight we had," she then crossed her arms. "Now we're both having miserable summers."
"Miranda, the summer isn't over yet." Jen began to say, about to put her arm around the younger girl.
"Don't touch me." Mirande demanded.
Jen then retracted her hand and backed up a little.
"She's right ya know," Darren said with a crafty smirk. "The summer is definitely not over yet."
Miranda then wondered what he could possibly mean by that as Otto tried to get some ice for his head.
"Is there at least a nurse around here? Ugh! This is totally the worst summer of my life." Otto complained as his head throbbed.